The relationship between Hamas and Iran after the Syrian uprising

This study examines the Iranian foreign policy towards the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) during the period (2006-2013), which saw the movement's victory in the parliamentary elections in 2006, and the formation of its government, which was boycotted regionally and internationally except for some Islamic countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran which announced from the first moment its support for the elected Palestinian government, boosting the relationship between Iran and Hamas, yet some events led to the decline in this relationship between the two parties. The year 2013 represents a crucial year in Hamas' rule of the Gaza Strip, when Mohammed Morsi, the Egyptian president was isolated as well as the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the spiritual father of the Hamas Movement. The study relied on several research approaches, including the descriptive, analytical, historical approaches and the analysis of strengths and foreign policy approaches. In addition, the researcher used interviews with specialists and officials as a research tool. This study falls in four chapters, which deals with the elements of Iran's foreign policy, which touches on the relationship between Iran and Hamas. It also addressed the impact of these changes on the Palestinian arena during that period on Iran's foreign policy towards Hamas, and the impact of the Arab revolutions on this policy. The study concluded by presenting a review of the possible future scenarios between the two parties at the regional and international levels. The study found that the Palestinian issue is of major concern to the political decision-maker in Iran, and to support the Palestinian resistance is necessary to confront Israel despite the different positions on the Syrian crisis. Keywords: Hamas, Iran, Foreign policy, Arab spring, Syria